New outfits join Anna’s movement as war against corruption intensifies

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Candlelight vigil, protests, bike rallies and fast by people from different walks of life were held in several parts of the city on Saturday even as various new outfits joined the movement in solidarity with Anna Hazare’s demand for a Jan Lokpal bill.

The support for Anna Hazare is slowly swelling in the city a week after the movement was launched across the country with new outfits pledging support and even one outfit wanting him to become the president of India.

Interestingly, corruption had different connotations for different outfits. While Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam, an outfit of two lakh traders, linked it to new economic policies, outfits like Tamizh Desiya Katchi saw it as a tool to awaken the people of the state to bring in a new meaning to the politics of the state besides demanding a Lok Ayukta in the state.

Memorial Hall near Chennai Central witnessed Gandhi Makkal Iyakkam and Tamizh Desiya Katchi launching agitation in support of Anna Hazare. “We salute Anna because he showed Gandhi’s way of struggle is effective weapon to fight against social evils and protect the right of citizens. He has kindled the conscience of India against corruption. We will succeed in our fight,” said Thamizh Aruvi Manian, founder president of Gandhi Makkal Iyakkam. 

Innian Sampath, the grandson of Periyar and a leader of the Tamizh Desiya Katchi feels the movement will bring in a revolution in politics of Tamil Nadu. “We will be taking the movement to the downtrodden people and will try to change the political colour of the state by ending corruption,” he said.

Meanwhile shops across the state will remain shut on August 23 in solidarity with Hazare, said Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam founder president Vellayan. He told Express more political outfits will be backing Anna. He also mooted the idea of nominating Hazare as president of the nation.

In Tiruvamiyur, youngsters took out a bike rally seeking support of the movement launched by India against corruption activists. There were also a steady crowd of old and young flocking to an unconstructed site which is the nerve center of the protest. Patriotic songs filled the air as the hall was thronged by people who were fasting and those who were showing solidarity with Anna.

At the corner of the hall, was a dias filled with 36 protestors fasting for the fifth day continuously. Nearby was also another enclosure where around 200 people who signed up to fast for a day in support for the movement, were sitting calmly.

“More women are joining the movement and there are a couple of women who are have joined the idefinite fast,” said India Against Corruption coordinator Bhavna.

Meanwhile, students of SJT Surana Jain Vidyalaya and Junior College took up a procession in solidarity with Anna Hazare at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Attired in various costumes, they showed their resentment to corruption.

Similarly thousands of people took part in a candlelight vigil in Sowcarpet and Marina Beach by vowing their support for Jan Lokpal Bill